Piano posture is sitting at the centre of the keyboard, with your back straight, your feet flat on the floor, and your elbows at keyboard height, so your forearms are level. Your hands should be curved, with your fingertips on the keys, and your wrists level, not bent, and your arms relaxed, so the playing is easy and the sound is full.
What is piano posture and hand position?
Piano posture is sitting at the centre of the keyboard, with your back straight, your feet flat on the floor, and your elbows at keyboard height, so your forearms are level. Your hands should be curved, with your fingertips on the keys, and your wrists level, not bent, and your arms relaxed, so the playing is easy and the sound is full, and the posture is the foundation, because a good posture makes the playing easy, and a bad posture makes it hard, and the hand position is the contact, because the fingers are the tools, and they must be in the right place. The posture is the sitting, and the hand position is the hands, and the two together make the playing, because the body supports the hands, and the hands play the keys, and the body must be balanced, so the hands are free, and the hands must be curved, so the fingers are on the keys, and the wrists must be level, so the fingers are free, and the arms must be relaxed, so the weight falls into the keys, and the sound is full. The C major piano chord and the G major piano chord are the chords most players first play with good posture, and the metronome keeps the beat steady.
How piano posture and hand position work
Piano posture works because the body is balanced, and the arms are level, and the hands are free, and the fingers can play, without the body getting in the way. The bench should be at the right height, so the elbows are at keyboard height, and the forearms are level, and the hands are on the keys, and the wrists are level, not bent, and the fingers are curved, with the fingertips on the keys, and the weight of the arm falls into the keys, and the sound is full, because the arm weight, not the finger strength, makes the sound. The back should be straight, not slouched, because a straight back lets the arms move freely, and a slouched back puts strain on the shoulders, and the arms, and the playing will be stiff. The hand position works because the fingers are curved, like holding a ball, with the fingertips on the keys, and the thumb on its side, and the hand is relaxed, not tense, and the fingers can move, independently, and the chords are clean, and the scales are smooth, because the fingers are in the right place, and they press the right keys, and they do not hit the wrong keys. The wrist should be level, not bent up or down, because a bent wrist puts strain on the wrist and the forearm, and the strain becomes pain, and the pain makes the playing worse. The D major piano chord and the A major piano chord are the chords the posture is built on.
Worked example — checking your posture and hand position. Sit at the centre of the keyboard, with middle C, C4, 261.63 Hz, in front of you, and check three things: is your back straight, or is it slouched, and if it is slouched, sit up, because a straight back lets the arms move freely; are your elbows at keyboard height, with your forearms level, or are they too high or too low, and if they are, adjust the bench, until the forearms are level; and are your wrists level, with your fingers curved, and your fingertips on the keys, or are your wrists bent, and your fingers flat, and if they are, level the wrists, and curve the fingers, so the fingertips are on the keys. Now play a C major chord, with the right hand, fingers 1, 3, and 5, on C, E, and G, and the chord should ring cleanly, and the hands should be relaxed, and the playing should be easy. The I–V–vi–IV progression in C major is a good progression to check the posture with.
How to practise piano posture and hand position
Practise posture and hand position by checking them before you play, and by playing with a relaxed arm, so the weight falls into the keys, and the sound is full.
- Sit at the centre of the keyboard, with your back straight, your feet flat on the floor, and your elbows at keyboard height, and check that your forearms are level.
- Play a C major chord, with the right hand, fingers 1, 3, and 5, on C, E, and G, and check that your wrists are level, and your fingers are curved, with the fingertips on the keys.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major and check that your arms are relaxed, and the weight falls into the keys, and the sound is full.
- Practise playing with a relaxed arm, by lifting the arm, and letting it fall, onto the keys, and listening for the sound to be full, without forcing it.
- Practise scales, with the right fingering, and check that your wrists stay level, and your fingers stay curved, throughout the scale.
Common mistakes
- Slouching — A slouched back puts strain on the shoulders, and the arms, and the playing will be stiff, and the hands will tire, and the chords will be slow. Sit up straight, with your back supported, and the arms will be free, and the playing will be easy.
- Bending the wrists — A bent wrist puts strain on the wrist and the forearm, and the strain becomes pain, and the pain makes the playing worse. Keep the wrists level, not bent up or down, and the fingers will be free, and the playing will be easy.
- Playing with flat fingers — Flat fingers will hit neighbouring keys, and play wrong notes, and the chord will be muddy, because the fingers are not curved, and they touch the keys they should not touch. Curve your fingers, with the fingertips on the keys, and the chord will be clean.
Quick reference
This table shows the correct position for each body part when you play piano, with the reason for it, so you can check your posture in seconds, before you play. The back is straight, the elbows are at keyboard height, the wrists are level, and the fingers are curved, and each one has a reason, and the reasons together make the playing easy.
| Body part | Correct position | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Back | Straight, not slouched | So the arms move freely |
| Feet | Flat on the floor | So the body is balanced |
| Elbows | At keyboard height | So the forearms are level |
| Wrists | Level, not bent | So the fingers move freely |
| Fingers | Curved, fingertips on keys | So the chords are clean |
Use the table to check your posture before you play: sit up straight, put your feet flat, set the bench so your elbows are at keyboard height, level your wrists, and curve your fingers, and the playing will be easy, and the sound will be full. When you can sit correctly, without thinking, you have the posture, and the piano is yours.
Frequently asked questions
What is good piano posture?
Sitting at the centre of the keyboard, with your back straight, your feet flat on the floor, and your elbows at keyboard height, so your forearms are level, and your hands are curved, with your fingertips on the keys, and your wrists level, and your arms relaxed.
How high should the piano bench be?
High enough that your elbows are at keyboard height, and your forearms are level, and your hands are on the keys, and your wrists are level, not bent, and the bench should be adjusted, until the forearms are level.
Why should my wrists be level?
Because a bent wrist puts strain on the wrist and the forearm, and the strain becomes pain, and the pain makes the playing worse, and a level wrist lets the fingers move freely, and the playing is easy.
Why should my fingers be curved?
Because curved fingers, with the fingertips on the keys, press the right keys, and do not hit the neighbouring keys, and the chord is clean, and the scales are smooth, while flat fingers hit the wrong keys, and the chord is muddy.
Can I play piano standing up?
No, not well, because the piano is played sitting, with the arms level, and the weight falling into the keys, and standing will make the arms work harder, and the playing will be stiff, and the sound will be thin.